11 Warren Street, the Old Warren Fire House and School (1884)

In 1884, Edward W. Choate contracted with the town to build a firehouse for $1250.00 on Warren St., on land purchased from Ann Mitchell. The Warren engine was paid for 26, October 1884, and cost $1200.00. She was bought of Roxbury and was second hand, but nearly new. The town loaned her to her old Roxbury company on the occasion of the parade of the Boston Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association, 12 September 1887, and in the contest for the Globe prizes, she was third, throwing a stream 171 feet, 9 inches. The Warren has proved her efficiency on all occasions, and has firm, easy action.

William J. Barton identified this as the Barnicoat handtub in front of the first Warren engine house, rear of the larger Warren Engine house which housed Hose No. 1, and Masconnomet le France Steam fire engine.The town of Ipswich sold the property to William J. Barton, who purchased it to store the hand engine Torrent No. 3, which was bought from William G. Horton and the town of Ipswich. The town apparently stored the Barnicoat here before they sold it to a town in New Hampshire. The Barnicoat was a Hunneman tub, purchased from the city of Boston on February 27, 1862 for $425.

1882: Article 16. To see what action the Town will take in regard to the building of a house for the use of Warren Engine and Mechanic Hose Companies.

1883: At the last annual town meeting, the selectmen were authorized to purchase a suitable lot for the building of an engine house for the Warren Engine Co. They have attended to that duty and have purchased of Mrs. Mitchell, a lot nearly opposite where the present house stands. They have also, by the direction of the town, built a large and substantial reservoir, at the meeting of East and Cross streets, near the store of L. E. Willcomb at the cost, (as will be seen by the report) of $663.91.

1883: Article 16. To see if the town will authorize the building of a new house for Warren Engine Co., and appropriate money for the same.

1884: Edward W. Choate contracted with the town to build a firehouse for $1250.00 on Warren St., on land purchased from Ann Mitchell.

1885: Art. 20. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to sell the old engine house (across Warren St.), formerly occupied by the Warren Engine Co.

1895: The Warren and Neptune Companies have been disbanded, owing to our water supply the hand engines were not needed. A new steamer has been purchased at an expense of $3200 and has proved itself to be as good as the best.

1896: Warren engine sold for $280.00

1907 The top floor of the Warren Street Firehouse was used as a school this year.

1910 The Warren Street firehouse was converted to a school to house two 7th grade classrooms.

1911: The Warren Street School was remodelled, proper entrance provided, a broad and safe stair-case built, and the building otherwise remodelled, so that the same makes a very comfortable and convenient school building.

1926: The Shatswell School is constructed on Green Street, consolidating several small schools, including Wainwright, Dennison, Cogswell, Spring Street and Warren Street schools. The Warren Street School is sold.

11 Warren St., the former Warren firehouse, was built in 1884.

View from Town hill before 1900 by George Dexter. The Warren Firehouse is in front of the Methoodist Church steeple. In the rear is a tower for drying the hoses. The large Mansard roof building to the right of the Methodist Church is the Agawam house, still standing but much changed. In the background is Heartbreak hill.

The Warren hand pump fire truck, sitting near the corner of Warren and North Main Streets

The 1872 Ipswich Village map shows the original Warren firehouse directly across the street from the building at 11 Warren St. which was constructed in 1884.

The 1884 Ipswich Village map shows the land of Mrs. A. Mitchell, a parcel of which was purchased for the new Warren St. firehouse. (Buildings with a rectangle and an X through them are barns or other non-residential structures.)

The 1910 Ipswich village map shows the Warren Street firehouse, now being used as a school, and the storage building behind it.